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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline APRIL 23, 2021 | The Indian Eye 34

april is ‘sikh awareness month’ in

illinois: raja Krishnamoorthi

Our Bureau is timely, given the disturbing wear a turban as part of his mil- man. And they include men

WASHINGTON, DC rise in hate crimes and vio- itary uniform. Sikh-Americans and women called to pub-
lent acts perpetrated against continued to proudly serve lic service like Dalip Singh
ndian-American Congress- Sikh-Americans, most recently with distinction in the Second Saund, who in 1957 became
man Raja Krishnamoorthi on April 15 at a Federal Ex- World War, Korean War, Viet- the first Asian-American, In-
Ihas entered a statement press facility located in Indi- nam War and in our conflicts in dian-American and member of
into the Congressional record anapolis in which four Sikhs, Afghanistan and Iraq,” Krish- a non-Abrahamic faith to be
to recognize April as ‘Sikh including three women were namoorthi said. elected to serve in this House
appreciation and awareness killed. In addition to military ser- of Representatives,” he added.
month’ in his home state of Il- The first followers of the vice, Sikh-Americans have During this month of ap-
linois. Sikh religion emigrated to the made countless contributions preciation for Sikh-Ameri-
Underscoring the impor- United States over 125 years to our common good, he said. cans, Krishnamoorthi said he
tance of the recognition, Krish- ago, where they found work on “They include scientists like wants to officially recognize
namoorthi said there has been farms located in California and Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, the contributions of the more
a disturbing rise in hate crimes in the lumber mills of Washing- who is widely known as the ‘fa- than 7,00,000 members of the
and violent acts perpetrated ton state, he said. ther of fiber optic technology’ United States Sikh community
against the Sikh-American Despite suffering persecu- and Dr. Gurtej Singh Sandhu, to business, the arts, science,
community. tion and discrimination, these one of the world’s most prolific medicine, literature and phi-
“Madam Speaker, today I patriotic Sikh-Americans per- inventors. They include artists losophy.
rise to recognize the month of severed and found ways to par- and musicians like Grammy “Additionally, I ask all
April as ‘Sikh appreciation and ticipate in civic life, including nominee Snatam Kaur Khal- Americans to take to heart the
awareness month’ in my home service in the United States sa, and activist and award-win- Sikh religion’s belief in the
state of Illinois,” Krishnamoor- Army, he added. ning filmmaker Valarie Kaur,” sanctity of each person, re-
thi said in a statement submit- “In 1918, Sergeant Bhagat Krishnamoorthi said. spect for freedom of religion,
ted into Congressional record, Singh Thind was the first ser- “They include entrepre- and creed that community ser-
according to a PTI report. viceman in the history of the neurs like Waris Ahluwalia, an vice is the foundation for living
This recognition, he said, United States Army allowed to actor, model, and business- a good life,” he said.

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